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This is Vegas is set to offer the fantasy
impression of Las Vegas we all get when we close our eyes. The seedy
underbelly riddled with guns and drugs crossed with the
 adult-come-adolescent
behaviour that every gamer has delved into at one point or another –
strippers, gambling and drinking - though, not necessarily in
reality. It only takes a few moments with the title for the racy
dialogue to insight laughter, but can This is Vegas continue
to reproduce these first few minutes for the entire length of a
game? At E3 2008, the attendees could get a taste of the
proceedings, and begin to make their own minds-up.
While This is Vegas was playable at E3 2008, it
was the exact same build which had previously been available back in
April. Given that
Electronic Theatre revealed the title has suffered a
delay
back at the beginning of July – pushing This is Vegas back
into an unspecified 2009 window – it was hoped that Midway may
offer-up some reasoning for the added development time; however,
this was not the case.
The demo available featured a series of activities to
take part in; Blackjack, Poker and Fruit Machines will be available
in the final build, but only Pontoon was playable. Playing along the
traditional rules, the player also has an option to cheat for a
slight edge; however, utilising this too much will raise suspicion.
A demonstration of a club was next, and the goal of getting a party
going. While in reality this may be simple enough for cool cats like
myself, the game’s dancing mechanic most closely relates to the
Trick System in Tony Hawk’s games. Using the Left Analogue
Stick and a combination of Face Buttons, the player can string
together moves in time with the rhythm of the track playing in order
to impress bystanders, and encourage them to join you on the dance
floor. Picking fights with unwanted guests and a drink-serving
Mini-game are also available in club sections.
Down at the bar, it’s more than possible to find
yourself having one-too-many, leaving your on-screen avatar to fend
for himself
 in
a corner while you enjoy various dizzying effects. The player can
not only drink, but also serve drinks via some Quick-Time Entry
Mini-Games. A wet t-shirt Mini-Game rounded-off the bar section
demo, with three girls and a hose being thrust upon the player. The
objective is to ensure that all three girls get wet enough before a
timer ticks-down.
A demonstration of the Combat System was also present,
which currently needs work. The Collision Detection is bordering on
unplayable; however, stringing combos together is still feasible
even at this stage. A single button represents your fists, with
longer-held button presses releasing longer swings, and another
button actions a grapple. Knocking an enemy to the floor can be
quite brutal, as you can continue attacking a downed opponent.
This is Vegas needs some work – and here, perhaps
with already have an answer for that delay – however, each activity
is shaping-up nicely in its own right. It may be some time before we
learn how the developers intend on stringing this all together – and
exactly what the overall objective of the title is – but in the mean
time, we’ll be keeping a very close-eye on This is Vegas. |
